Immunogenic polypeptides comprising a scaffold polypeptide and a l2 polypeptide or a fragment thereof

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an immunogenic polypeptide comprising a) a scaffold polypeptide, and b) a L2 polypeptide or a fragment of said L2 polypeptide, wherein said scaffold polypeptide constrains the structure of said L2 polypeptide, or of a fragment of said L2 polypeptide. Moreover, the present invention relates to a vaccine comprising said immunogenic polypeptide. The present invention is also concerned with a method for producing an antibody against human papillomavirus. Also encompassed by the present invention is an antibody obtained by carrying out the said method.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/140,793, filed Aug. 11, 2011, which is the National Phase ofInternational Patent Application No. PCT/EP2009/067422, filed Dec. 17,2009, which claims priority from European Patent Application No.08172349.6, filed Dec. 19, 2008. The contents of these applications areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

The present invention relates to an immunogenic polypeptide comprisinga) a scaffold polypeptide, and b) a L2 polypeptide or a fragment of saidL2 polypeptide, wherein said scaffold polypeptide constrains thestructure of said L2 polypeptide, or of the fragment of said L2polypeptide. Moreover, the present invention relates to a vaccinecomprising said immunogenic polypeptide. The present invention is alsoconcerned with a method for producing an antibody against humanpapillomavirus. Also encompassed by the present invention is an antibodyobtained by carrying out the said method.

Cervical cancer is women's second most frequent cancer worldwide.Clinical and molecular studies have shown that certain types of humanpapillomavirus (HPV), referred to as high-risk types, are theetiological agents of this disease. Two anti-HPV vaccines for theprophylaxis of cervical cancer have been licensed recently by Merck(Gardasil™) and GlaxoSmithKline (Cervarix™) (Schmiedeskamp et al, (2006)Human papillomavirus vaccines. Ann Pharmacother, 40, 1344-1352). Bothvaccines rely on the major capsid protein L1 in the form of virus-likeparticles (VLPs) as antigen (Roden et al., (2006) How will HPV vaccinesaffect cervical cancer? Nat Rev Cancer, 6, 753-763); they protectagainst the HPV types from which the L1-VLPs were derived, yet arelargely ineffective against all but the most closely related HPV types.The two most prominent high-risk HPV types, 16 and 18, are the majortargets of both vaccines, although there is evidence for partialcross-protection against HPV types 31 and 45 (reviewed by Muller andGissmann, (2007) A long way: history of the prophylactic papillomavirusvaccine. Dis Markers, 23, 331-336; Huh and Roden, (2008) The future ofvaccines for cervical cancer. Gynecol Oncol, 109, S48-56). The limitedcross-protective capacity of L1-based vaccines, which is the main reasonfor the continuing effort toward the development of improved vaccinationstrategies, likely reflects the HPV type specificity of L1 neutralizingepitopes (Giroglou et al., (2001) Immunological analyses of humanpapillomavirus capsids. Vaccine, 19, 1783-1793).

Antibodies against the minor capsid protein L2 also neutralize HPVinfection and are often capable to cross-neutralize various non-cognatevirions, although with varying efficiencies (Kondo et al. 2007,Neutralization of HPV 16, 18, 31, and 58 pseudovirions with antiserainduced by immunizing rabbits with synthetic peptides representingsegments of the HPV16 minor capsid protein L2 surface region. Virology,358, 266-272; Gambhira, R., (2007) A protective and broadlycross-neutralizing epitope of human papillomavirus L2. J Virol, 81,13927-13931). The N-terminal region of L2 interacts with an as yetunidentified secondary receptor on the surface of target cells (Yang etal. (2003) Cell surface-binding motifs of L2 that facilitatepapillomavirus infection. J Virol, 77, 3531-3541) and this interactioncan be blocked by anti-L2 antibodies. The precise identity of the L2region involved in HPV-cell surface interaction is still a matter ofdebate. This was initially proposed as the region comprised of aminoacids (aa) 108-120, and antibodies targeting this particular L2 regionwere indeed shown to block viral infection in vitro albeit at low titers(Kawana et al. (2001) Nasal immunization of mice with peptide having across-neutralization epitope on minor capsid protein L2 of humanpapillomavirus type 16 elicit systemic and mucosal antibodies. Vaccine,19, 1496-1502; Kawana et al. (2001b) Human papillomavirus type 16 minorcapsid protein L2 N-terminal region containing a common neutralizationepitope binds to the cell surface and enters the cytoplasm. J Virol, 75,2331-2336). Subsequent experiments identified additional neutralizingepitopes in the aa 1-88 region (Pastrana et al. (2005)Cross-neutralization of cutaneous and mucosal Papillomavirus types withanti-sera to the amino terminus of L2. Virology, 337, 365-372) as wellas in more extended N-terminal regions comprised of aa 11-200 and aa18-144 (Kondo loc. cit). Perhaps the most prominent of these N-terminalepitopes is the one located between aa 17-36. This was identified as thetarget of an HPV 16 neutralizing and protective monoclonal antibody(RG-1) as well as the major determinant of the neutralizing activityfound in sera from rabbits and humans immunized with extended versionsof L2 (aa 1-88, 11-200 or the full-length protein) (Gambhira, 2007, loccit.). Since it had been found that mutation of L2 amino acids 18 and 19or of amino acids 20 and 21 disrupted both L2 binding to the cellsurface and viral infection (Yang, R., et al. (2003). Cellsurface-binding motifs of L2 that facilitate papillomavirus infection.J. Virol. 77:3531-3541), it was concluded that the epitope recognized bythe RG-1 antibody overlaps the surface-binding motif of HPV 16 L2.

Besides the lack of precise knowledge on the most relevant (cross)neutralizing epitope(s), a major problem with the use of L2 as a toolfor HPV prophylaxis is the poor immunogenicity of the L2 protein andpeptides thereof, as compared to L1-VLPs. A substantial increase inimmunogenicity has been reported lately via chemical coupling of theHPV16 L2 peptide (17-36) to a broadly recognized T helper epitope and tothe Toll-like receptor ligand dipalmitoyl S-glyceryl cysteine (Alphs etal. (2008) Protection against heterologous human papillomaviruschallenge by a synthetic lipopeptide vaccine containing a broadlycross-neutralizing epitope of L2. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 105,5850-5855). Alternatively, L2 peptides have been fused to Adenovirussurface proteins (WO 2008/140474) or to other HPV proteins to increaseimmunogenicity (WO 2002/070004, de Jong et al. (2002), Enhancement ofhuman papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 E6 and E7-specific T-cell immunity inhealthy volunteers through vaccination with TA-CIN, an HPV16 L2E7E6fusion protein vaccine, Vaccine, 20(29-30):3456-3464).

A recently developed alternative strategy for increasing peptideimmunogenicity relies on the use of thioredoxin (Trx) as a scaffoldprotein with the ability to constrain the structure of single-copy aswell as multimeric (tandemly repeated) peptide epitopes inserted withinits surface-exposed active site loop (Moreno et al. (2007)Conformation-sensitive antibodies against Alzheimer amyloid-beta byimmunization with a thioredoxin-constrained B-cell epitope peptide. JBiol Chem, 282, 11436-11445).

Thus, the L1 polypeptide is highly immunogenic and antibodies against itshow only a limited cross-protective capacity, whereas antibodiesagainst the L2 polypeptide are capable of cross-neutralizing various HPVgenotypes. The L2 polypeptide, however has only limited immunogenicity.

Therefore, immunogenic polypeptides that are highly immunogenic andallow for a cross-neutralization of various HPV genotypes without thedrawbacks as referred to above are highly required.

The technical problem underlying the present invention can be seen asthe provision of means and methods for complying with the aforementionedneeds.

The technical problem is solved by the embodiments characterized in theclaims and herein below.

Accordingly, the present invention relates to an immunogenic polypeptidecomprising

-   -   a) a scaffold polypeptide, and    -   b) a L2 polypeptide having an amino acid sequence as shown in        SEQ ID NO:1, or a fragment of said L2 polypeptide,    -   wherein said scaffold polypeptide constrains the structure of        said L2 polypeptide, or of the fragment of said L2 polypeptide.

The term “polypeptide” as used herein relates to a polymer comprisingamino acids linked together by peptide bonds. The term “immunogenicpolypeptide” is understood by the skilled person. Immunogenicpolypeptides, preferably, elicit protective immune response in a host,preferably, in a human. The immunogenic polypeptide in the context ofthe present invention, preferably, shall allow for establishing orimproving immunity to infection with various HPV genotypes. Preferably,the immunogenic polypeptide according to the present invention allowsfor establishing or improving immunity to infection with humanpapillomavirus genotypes 16, 18, 31, 45 and 58. Preferably, the saidpolypeptide also allows for establishing or improving immunity toinfection with human papillomavirus genotypes 6, 52, 2, 27, 57 and/or11. Immunogenic polypeptides are preferred reagents for vaccinecompositions.

The term “L2 polypeptide”, preferably, refers to the N-terminal regionof the full-length L2 polypeptide of HPV 16 (human papillomavirus 16).The full-length L2 is one of the two capsid proteins of HPV 16 and isfrequently also referred to as minor capsid protein. Together with themajor capsid protein, L1, the full-length L2 polypeptide forms viralcapsids. The L2 polypeptide in the context of the present invention,preferably, comprises the N-terminal amino acids 1 to 120 of the HPV16L2 polypeptide as shown in SEQ ID NO:1.

The term “fragment” as used herein, preferably, refers to asub-polypeptide of the L2 polypeptide (as shown in SEQ ID NO:1).Preferably, said fragment comprises at least 7, at least 10, at least12, at least 15, or at least 20 consecutive amino acid residues of saidL2 polypeptide. Preferred fragments of the L2 polypeptide have an aminoacid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:2 (KTCKQAGTCPPDIIPKVEG), as shown inSEQ ID NO:3 (KTCKQAGTCPPD), as shown in SEQ ID NO:4 (TCKQAGTCPPD), asshown in SEQ ID NO:5 (CKQAGTCPPD), as shown in SEQ ID NO:6 (TCKQAGTCPP),as shown in SEQ ID NO:7 (CKQAGTCPP), as shown in SEQ ID NO:8(DIIPKVEGKT), as shown in SEQ ID NO:9 (TGYIPLGTR).

The most preferred fragments in the context of the present invention arefragments having a sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:2(KTCKQAGTCPPDIIPKVEG, amino acids 20 to 38 of the L2 polypeptide asshown in SEQ ID NO:1)), or as shown in SEQ ID NO:5 (CKQAGTCPPD, aminoacids 22 to 31 of the L2 polypeptide as shown in SEQ ID NO:1).

Preferably, the terms “polypeptide” “L2 polypeptide” and “fragment ofthe L2 polypeptide”, respectively, shall also encompass variants of saidpolypeptide, L2 polypeptide or variants of said fragment of said L2polypeptide, respectively. Such variants have essentially the sameimmunological properties as the specific polypeptides, respectively. Inparticular, they share the same immunological properties if they aredetectable by the same specific assays referred to in thisspecification, e.g., by ELISA assays using polyclonal or monoclonalantibodies specifically recognizing the said polypeptides, respectively.Moreover, it is to be understood that a variant as referred to inaccordance with the present invention shall have an amino acid sequencewhich differs due to at least one amino acid substitution, deletionand/or addition wherein the amino acid sequence of the variant is still,preferably, at least 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 92%, 95%, 97%, 98%,or 99% identical with the amino sequence of the specific polypeptide.The degree of identity between two amino acid sequences can bedetermined by algorithms well known in the art. Preferably, the degreeof identity is to be determined by comparing two optimally alignedsequences over a comparison window, where the fragment of amino acidsequence in the comparison window may comprise additions or deletions(e.g., gaps or overhangs) as compared to the reference sequence (whichdoes not comprise additions or deletions) for optimal alignment. Thepercentage is calculated by determining the number of positions at whichthe identical amino acid residue occurs in both sequences to yield thenumber of matched positions, dividing the number of matched positions bythe total number of positions in the window of comparison andmultiplying the result by 100 to yield the percentage of sequenceidentity. Optimal alignment of sequences for comparison may be conductedby the local homology algorithm of Smith and Waterman Add. APL. Math.2:482 (1981), by the homology alignment algorithm of Needleman andWunsch J. Mol. Biol. 48:443 (1970), by the search for similarity methodof Pearson and Lipman Proc. Natl. Acad Sci. (USA) 85: 2444 (1988), bycomputerized implementations of these algorithms (GAP, BESTFIT, BLAST,PASTA, and TFASTA in the Wisconsin Genetics Software Package, GeneticsComputer Group (GCG), 575 Science Dr., Madison, Wis.), or by visualinspection. Given that two sequences have been identified forcomparison, GAP and BESTFIT are preferably employed to determine theiroptimal alignment and, thus, the degree of identity. Preferably, thedefault values of 5.00 for gap weight and 0.30 for gap weight length areused. Variants referred to above may be allelic variants or any otherspecies specific homologs, paralogs, or orthologs. Further included arevariants which differ due to posttranslational modifications such asphosphorylation or myristoylation.

As mentioned above, in a preferred embodiment of the present inventionthe fragment of the L2 polypeptide comprised by the scaffold polypeptideof the immunogenic polypeptide has a sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:2(KTCKQAGTCPPDIIPKVEG), or as shown in SEQ ID NO:3 (KTCKQAGTCPPD), or asshown in SEQ ID NO:4 (TCKQAGTCPPD), or as shown in SEQ ID NO:5(CKQAGTCPPD), or as shown in SEQ ID NO:6 (TCKQAGTCPP), or a sequence asshown in SEQ ID NO:7 (CKQAGTCPP), or a sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:31(IIPKVEGKT), or a sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:32 (IPKVEGKT). Since ithas been shown in the context of the present invention that the Alanine(A) residue comprised by the aforementioned fragments can be replacedwith other amino acid residues (particularly, with a Glycine (G)residue) without significantly affecting the immunogenicity of thepolypeptide according to the invention as well as the neutralizingcapacity of the antibodies against the said immunogenic polypeptide (seeExamples), variants of the aforementioned fragments preferably have theamino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:10 (KTCKQXGTCPPDIIPKVEG), oras shown in SEQ ID NO:11 (KTCKQXGTCPPD), or as shown in SEQ ID NO:12(TCKQXGTCPPD), or as shown in SEQ ID NO:13 (CKQXGTCPPD), or as shown inSEQ ID NO:14 (TCKQXGTCPP), or a sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:15(CKQXGTCPP). Preferably, X represents a Glycine (G) or an Alanine (A)residue. Moreover, experiments with the aforementioned fragments of theL2 polypeptide have shown that the most crucial amino acid residues forimmunogenicity and for the generation of cross-neutralizing antibodieswere amino acid residues 22 to 24 (CKQ) and 26 to 31 (GTCPPD) of the L2polypeptide as shown in SEQ ID NO:1 (see Examples). Accordingly, themost preferred variant of a fragment of the L2 polypeptide has asequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 13), CKQXGTCPPD).

In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the immunogenicpolypeptide comprises a multimer of the L2 polypeptide or a fragmentthereof (or a variant of said L2 polypeptide or a variant of anyfragment thereof). Thus, the immunogenic polypeptide shall comprise morethan one L2 polypeptide or more than one fragment of the L2 polypeptide.It is particularly envisaged that the immunogenic polypeptide comprisesmore than one fragment of the L2 polypeptide (or variants thereof).Preferably, the immunogenic polypeptide comprises multimers of 2 to 15fragments of the L2 polypeptide, and more preferably multimers of 3 to 9(and, thus, of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9) fragments of the L2 polypeptide.Most preferably, said immunogenic polypeptide comprises multimers ofthree or four fragments of the L2 polypeptide. Preferably, saidfragments are directly linked together. More preferably, said fragmentsare linked via a linker peptide (for an explanation of the term “linkerpeptide”, see herein below). Preferably, if the immunogenic polypeptidecomprises more than one fragment of the L2 polypeptide, the fragmentsshall have the same or essentially the same sequence. However, it isalso contemplated that the multimer comprises various fragments (orvariants thereof) of the L2 polypeptide.

Other preferred L2 fragments (or variants thereof) are selected from thegroup consisting of SEQ ID NO: 33 to SEQ ID NO:479. SEQ ID NO:33 to SEQID NO:479 are also shown in Table 1. The sequences as shown in SEQ IDNO:33 to SEQ ID NO:79 and in SEQ ID NO:486 to SEQ ID NO:489 are variantsof the L2 fragment KTCKQAGTCPPDIIPKVEG as shown in SEQ ID NO:2; thesequences as shown in SEQ ID NO:80 to SEQ ID NO:112 and in SEQ ID NO:490 are variants of the L2 fragment KTCKQAGTCPPD as shown in SEQ IDNO:3; the sequences as shown in SEQ ID NO:113 to SEQ ID NO:139 arevariants of the L2 fragment TCKQAGTCPPD as shown in SEQ ID NO:4; thesequences as shown in SEQ ID NO:140 to SEQ ID NO:161 are variants of theL2 fragment CKQAGTCPPD as shown in SEQ ID NO:5; the sequences as shownin SEQ ID NO:162 to SEQ ID NO:188 are variants of the L2 fragmentTCKQAGTCPP as shown in SEQ ID NO:6; the sequences as shown in SEQ IDNO:189 to SEQ ID NO:210 are variants of the L2 fragment CKQAGTCPP asshown in SEQ ID NO:7; the sequences as shown in SEQ ID NO:211 to SEQ IDNO:238 are variants of the L2 fragment DIIPKVEGKT as shown in SEQ IDNO:8; the sequences as shown in SEQ ID NO:239 to SEQ ID NO:266 arevariants of the L2 fragment IIPKVEGKT as shown in SEQ ID NO:31; thesequences as shown in SEQ ID NO:267 to SEQ ID NO:293 are variants of theL2 fragment IPKVEGKT as shown in SEQ ID NO:32; the sequences as shown inSEQ ID NO:294 to SEQ ID NO:301 are variants of the L2 fragment TGYIPLGTRas shown in SEQ ID NO:9; the sequences as shown in SEQ ID NO:302 to SEQID NO:348 are variants of the L2 fragment KTCKQXGTCPPDIIPKVEG as shownin SEQ ID NO:10; the sequences as shown in SEQ ID NO:349 to SEQ IDNO:381 are variants of the L2 fragment KTCKQXGTCPPD as shown in SEQ IDNO:11; the sequences as shown in SEQ ID NO: 382 to SEQ ID NO: 408 arevariants of the L2 fragment TCKQXGTCPPD as shown in SEQ ID NO:12; thesequences as shown in SEQ ID NO: 409 to SEQ ID NO: 430 are variants ofthe L2 fragment CKQXGTCPPD as shown in SEQ ID NO:13; the sequences asshown in SEQ ID NO: 431 to SEQ ID NO: 457 are variants of the L2fragment TCKQXGTCPP as shown in SEQ ID NO:14; the sequences as shown inSEQ ID NO:458 to SEQ ID NO:479 are variants of the L2 fragment CKQXGTCPPas shown in SEQ ID NO:15.

As mentioned above, the immunogenic polypeptide shall also comprise alinker peptide or more than one linker peptide. Said linker peptide,preferably, shall prevent the formation of junctional epitopes.Preferably, the linker peptide is positioned at the C- and/or N-Terminusof the L2 polypeptide, or of the fragment (or of the variant thereof).If the immunogenic polypeptide comprises more than one fragment of theL2 polypeptide (or more than one variant of said fragment), it isparticularly contemplated that the immunogenic polypeptide comprises alinker peptide between the various fragments (or variants thereof). Forexample, SEQ ID NO:21 shows a multimer of L2 fragments with a GGP-linker(SEQ ID NO:16) inserted between any one of the L2 fragments.

Preferably, said linker has a length of 1 to 5 amino acids. The personskilled in the art knows how to select suitable linker peptides.Preferably, said 1 to 5 amino acids comprised by said linker peptide areselected from the group consisting of Glycine (G), Proline (P) or Serine(S). A particularly preferred linker peptide comprises the amino acidsequence GGP (SEQ ID NO: 16). However, also other linkers can be usedsuch as GPGP (SEQ ID NO: 17), GPGPG (SEQ ID NO: 18), or SGSG (SEQ ID NO:19). Preferably, said linker peptide is positioned at the junction ofthe scaffold polypeptide and the fragment of the L2 polypeptide and/orat the junction of two L2 fragments (or variants thereof). Thus, saidlinker peptide can be positioned either N-terminally or C-terminallyfrom the L2 fragment (or variant thereof) or both.

A preferred multimer of a fragment of the L2 polypeptide comprised bythe immunogenic polypeptide according to the invention has an amino acidsequence such as the one shown in SEQ ID NO: 20, or in SEQ ID NO: 21, ora sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 22. Other preferred multimers aremultimers comprising combinations of different homooligomers offragments of the L2 polypeptide (e.g. a trimer of SEQ ID NO:2 linked toa trimer of SEQ ID NO:487 linked to a trimer of SEQ ID NO:487). Morepreferably, the L2 polypeptides comprised in said multimers areseparated by linker sequences, see e.g. SEQ ID NO: 491. Also preferredare repeats of heterooligomers of fragments of the L2 polypeptide. Aheterooligomer comprises e.g. SEQ ID NO:2 linked to SEQ ID NO:487 linkedto SEQ ID NO:77, the corresponding multimer comprising e.g. saidheterooligomer repeated three times. More preferably, the L2polypeptides comprised in said multimers are separated by linkersequences, see e.g. SEQ ID NO:492.

The L2 polypeptide, or fragment thereof (or the variant of said L2polypeptide or of the fragment thereof, or the corresponding multimers,see elsewhere herein) shall be comprised by a scaffold polypeptide whichconstrains the structure of the L2 polypeptide, or the fragment thereof(or the respective variants).

The term “constraining” as used herein, preferably, means that the L2polypeptide, or the fragment thereof (or the respective variants) thatis comprised by the scaffold protein is present in a conformation thatmimics its natural conformation. Preferably, said L2 polypeptide, or thefragment thereof (or the respective variant) is kept by the scaffoldpolypeptide in a fixed conformation, when constrained.

Any scaffold polypeptide being capable of constraining the structure ofsaid L2 polypeptide, or of the fragment of said L2 polypeptide,preferably, can be used for the production of the immunogenicpolypeptide according to the invention.

Preferably, the scaffold polypeptide is selected from the groupconsisting of thioredoxin, capsid polypeptides of adeno-associatedviruses (e.g. AAV2, GenBank Accession No., NC_001401.2, GI:110645916;AAV8 GenBank Accession No., NC_006261.1, GI:51949963; AAV7 GenBankAccession No., NC_006260.1, GI:51949960), the tenth type III module offibronectin (FN3, GenBank Accession No. 1TTF_A; GI:157834026, withinsertion of the L2 polypeptide, fragment or variant thereof within theexposed PAVTVR (SEQ ID NO: 480) or GRGDSPASS (SEQ ID NO: 481) loopsites), lipocalins (particularly, the bilin-binding protein from Pierisbrassicae, GenBank Accession No. CAA54063.1, GI:434995, with insertionof the L2 polypeptide, fragment or variant thereof within the PNSVEKY(SEQ ID NO: 482), IHGKE (SEQ ID NO: 483), TYGGVTK (SEQ ID NO: 484)and/or YDEDKKGH loop sites), a catalytically inactive version ofStaphylococcus nuclease (e.g., GenBank Accession No. 2SNS_A, 2SNS_A,GI:157836360, with peptide insertion within the YKGQP (SEQ ID NO: 485)loop site); an alpha-amylase inhibitor, preferably tendamistat (GenBankAccession No. CAA00655.1, GI:413044, with peptide insertion within theEDD and/or IGSHG loop sites); or stefin A (GenBank Accession No.P01040.1, GI:118177, with insertion of the L2 polypeptide, fragment orvariant thereof within the KSL loop site).

In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, however, thescaffold protein is a thioredoxin polypeptide or a variant thereof.

Thioredoxin polypeptides are the major cellular disulfide redoxcomponents and serve as electron donors for enzymes such asribonucleotide reductases, thioredoxin peroxidases and methioninesulfoxide reductases. Thioredoxins have an alpha/beta structure with twodisulfide bondable cysteine residues. Thioredoxins are ubiquitouspolypeptides and were shown to be present in most organisms (for areview see Amer and Holmgren, Physiological functions of thioredoxin andthioredoxin reductase, European Journal of Biochemistry, Volume 267Issue 20, Pages 6102-6109). The thioredoxin polypeptide in the contextof the present invention may be derived from any organism. Preferably,the thioredoxin polypeptide comprises the so called thioredoxin displaysite CGPC (SEQ ID NO: 23). The thioredoxin display site, also known asthioredoxin motif or as dithiol/disulfide active site, is a highlyconserved motif amongst thioredoxin polypeptides.

Preferably, said thioredoxin polypeptide is selected from the groupconsisting of prokaryotic and eukaryotic thioredoxin polypeptides, orany other thioredoxin or thioredoxin-like protein, or proteinsharbouring a thioredoxin (TRX) Pfam domain, bearing the conserved CGPC(SEQ ID NO: 23), or a CGXC, or a CXXC sequence motif (e.g., gi|40253454;gi|77456671; gi|31543902). More preferably, said thioredoxin polypeptideis selected from the group consisting of bacterial, animal and plantthioredoxin polypeptides Even more preferably, the thioredoxinpolypeptide is a Escherichia coli thioredoxin as shown in SEQ ID NO: 24(which shows 100% identity with the thioredoxin polypeptide ofSalmonella typhi), or the homologous thioredoxin polypeptides fromSalmonella enterica (SEQ ID NO: 25), mouse (SEQ ID NO: 26), rabbit (SEQID NO: 27), human (SEQ ID NO: 28), or any other thioredoxin orthioredoxin-like protein as shown in SEQ ID NO: 17. Also included areoligomers of said thioredoxin polypeptides, i.e. fusion polypeptidescomprising at least two copies of thioredoxin polypeptides, e.g. dimersor trimers, wherein the C-terminus of one copy of a thioredoxinpolypeptide is linked to the N-terminus of the following copy of athioredoxin polypeptide. Preferably, at least one of the thioredoxinpolypeptides comprises at least one L2 peptide inserted within thedisplay site. More preferably, in said oligomers the thioredoxinpolypeptides are separated by linker peptides, see e.g. SEQ ID NO:497and SEQ ID NO: 498.

Preferably, the L2 polypeptide, or the fragment of said L2 polypeptide(or multimer or fragment thereof) is positioned within the so called“display site” of thioredoxin. Thus, the said L2 polypeptide or fragmentthereof, preferably is positioned between the C and the G, or betweenthe G and the P, or between the P and the C residues of the display sitesequence CGPC (SEQ ID NO: 23) of the thioredoxin polypeptide. Alsocontemplated by the present invention is positioning the L2 polypeptideor fragment thereof adjacent to the display site, preferably, betweenany pair of amino acid residues located up to 20, up to 10, or up to 5amino acid residues upstream or downstream from the display site.

The term “thioredoxin polypeptide” also includes variants of thethioredoxin polypeptide. The explanations of the term “variant” madeelsewhere applies mutatis mutandis.

In a preferred embodiment the thioredoxin polypeptide is selected fromthe group consisting of

-   -   a) a polypeptide having a sequence as shown in SEQ ID No: 24,        SEQ ID No: 25, SEQ ID No: 26, SEQ ID No: 27, or SEQ ID No: 28        (or any other thioredoxin polypeptide as recited herein); and    -   b) a variant polypeptide having a sequence at least 70%        identical to the sequence shown in SEQ ID No: 24, SEQ ID No: 25,        SEQ ID No: 26, SEQ ID No: 27, or SEQ ID No: 28 (or any other        thioredoxin polypeptide as recited herein),    -   wherein said polypeptide constrains the structure of the L2        polypeptide, or which constrains the structure of a fragment of        said L2 polypeptide (or of a variant thereof).

As set forth above the thioredoxin polypeptide in the context of thepresent invention, preferably, shall comprise the thioredoxin displaysite.

In another preferred embodiment the thioredoxin polypeptide is derivedfrom a thermophile bacterium. The use of a thioredoxin polypeptide froma thermophile bacterium allows for storage of the immunogenicpolypeptides, e.g., at room temperature (instead of storing saidpolypeptide, e.g., at 4° C. or at even lower temperatures). Storing theimmunogenic polypeptide, e.g., at 20° C. is, particularly, advantageousif said polypeptide is used as a vaccine since it allows thedistribution of the polypeptide even in regions where cooling systemsare not available.

Thermophile bacteria are known to grow at elevated temperatures (>50°C.), particularly in and/or around geothermal vents in marine or aquaticenvironments. A variety of termophile bacteria is known in the art.Preferred thermophile bacteria in the context of the present inventionare Archaebacteria, particularly Methanosaeta thermophila, Archaeoglobusfulgidus, Metallosphaera sedula, Sulfolobus solfataricus, Sulfolobustokodaii, Sulfolobus acidocaldarius, Metallosphaera sedula, Thermofilumpendens, Picrophilus torridus, Caldivirga maquilingensis. The amino acidsequence of thioredoxin polypeptides of a variety of thermophilebacteria is well known in the art. Preferred thiorexodin polypeptidesderived from thermophile bacteria have an amino acid sequence as shownin GenBank-Accession Numbers: Methanosaeta thermophila (gi|116754023,YP_843141; gi|116754438, YP_843556); Archaeoglobus fulgidus(gi|11498883, NP_070112; gi|11499727, NP_070969); Metallosphaera sedula(gi|146304377, YP_001191693; gi|146303559, YP_001190875); Sulfolobussolfataricus (gi|15897303, NP_341908; gi|15899007, NP_343612);Sulfolobus tokodaii (gi|15922449, NP_378118; gi|15921676, NP_377345);Sulfolobus acidocaldarius (gi|70605894, YP_254764.1; gi|70607552,YP_256422.1; gi|70607229, YP_256099); Thermofilum pendens (gi|119720035,YP_920530); Picrophilus torridus (gi|48477193, YP_022899); Caldivirgamaquilingensis (gi|159040636, YP_001539888). Also included arethioredoxin polypeptides from Pyrococcus furiosus (SEQ ID NO: 493),Thermococcus kodakarensis (SEQ ID NO: 494), Thermococcus onnurineus (SEQID NO: 495), and Thermococcus sibiricus (SEQ ID NO: 496).

In a preferred embodiment the immunogenic polypeptide further comprisesa polypeptide that further stimulates (enhances) immunogenicity of saidimmunogenic polypeptides. Such polypeptides stimulating immunogenicityare well known in the art. Preferred stimulating polypeptides are C4 bp(Complement component 4 binding protein) and MDC/CCL22(Macrophage-Derived Chemokine_CC motif ligand 22. It is to be understoodthat the immunogenic polypeptide and the stimulating polypeptide arefused in frame. Preferably, the stimulating polypeptide is fused to theN- or C-terminus of to the immunogenic polypeptide

Preferably, the immunogenic polypeptide according to the invention is apolypeptide having an amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 29, orSEQ ID NO: 30.

The immunogenic polypeptide as shown in SEQ ID NO:29 comprises amultimer of 3 of the L2 fragment having a sequence as shown in SEQ IDNO:2, said fragments being connected by a linker peptide having asequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:16.

The immunogenic polypeptide as shown in SEQ ID NO:30 comprises amultimer of 9 of the L2 fragment having a sequence as shown in SEQ IDNO:2, said fragments being connected by a linker peptide having asequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:16.

The sequences as shown in SEQ ID NO: 29, and SEQ ID NO: 30 comprise twohexahistidine-tags for purification of said polypeptides. It is to beunderstood that these tag do not contribute to the immunogenicity ofsaid polypeptide and, thus, can be omitted.

Advantageously, it was shown in the studies underlying the presentinvention that an immunogenic polypeptide comprising a scaffoldpolypeptide and a L2 polypeptide or a fragment thereof, wherein saidscaffold protein constrains the structure of said polypeptide or of saidfragment, confers strong immunogenicity and induces strong neutralizingresponses against HPV16 as well as strong cross-neutralizing responsesagainst other HPV genotypes such as HPV18, HPV31, HPV45 and HPV58.Particularly, it was shown that a thioredoxin polypeptide that compriseswithin its display site the L2 polypeptide or a fragment has a strongimmunogenicity and allows for strong neutralizing as well ascross-neutralizing responses (see Examples). The immunogenicity and(cross-)neutralizing response was further enhanced when multimers of theL2 polypeptides or fragments thereof were inserted within the displaysite of the thioredoxin polypeptide (see Examples).

The immunogenic polypeptide according to the present invention is ofadvantage over prior art polypeptides, since the polypeptides asdisclosed in prior art have a low immunogenicity or only induce strongbut not cross-neutralizing responses. For example, L2 based peptidesthat are disclosed in the art are poorly immunogenic whereas L1 basedpeptides have a limited cross-protective capacity. Thus, the immunogenicpolypeptide according to the present invention allows for the productionof vaccines against a broad range of HPV genotypes, particularlyhigh-risk HPV genotypes.

Moreover, the present invention relates to a polynucleotide encoding theimmunogenic polypeptide according to the present invention.

The polynucleotides of the present invention may contain further nucleicacid sequences as well. Specifically, the polynucleotides of the presentinvention may encode fusion proteins wherein one partner of the fusionprotein is a polypeptide being encoded by a nucleic acid sequencerecited above. Such fusion proteins may comprise as additional partpeptide sequences for monitoring expression (e.g., green, yellow, blueor red fluorescent proteins, alkaline phosphatase and the like) or socalled “tags” which may serve as a detectable marker or as an auxiliarymeasure for purification purposes. Tags for the different purposes arewell known in the art and comprise FLAG-tags, 6-histidine-tags, MYC-tagsand the like.

The term “polynucleotide” as used herein refers to a linear or circularnucleic acid molecule. It encompasses DNA as well as RNA molecules. Thepolynucleotide of the present invention shall be provided, preferably,either as an isolated polynucleotide (i.e. isolated from its naturalcontext) or in genetically modified form. The term encompasses single aswell as double stranded polynucleotides. Moreover, comprised are alsochemically modified polynucleotides including naturally occurringmodified polynucleotides such as glycosylated or methylatedpolynucleotides or artificially modified derivatives such asbiotinylated polynucleotides. The polynucleotide of the presentinvention is characterized in that it shall encode a polypeptide asreferred to above. The polynucleotide, preferably, has a specificnucleotide sequence as mentioned above. Moreover, due to the degeneracyof the genetic code, polynucleotides are encompassed which encode aspecific amino acid sequence as recited above.

Moreover, the term “polynucleotide” as used in accordance with thepresent invention further encompasses variants of the aforementionedspecific polynucleotides. Said variants may represent orthologs,paralogs or other homologs of the polynucleotide of the presentinvention. The polynucleotide variants, preferably, comprise a nucleicacid sequence characterized in that the sequence can be derived from theaforementioned specific nucleic acid sequences by at least onenucleotide substitution, addition and/or deletion whereby the variantnucleic acid sequence shall still encode a polypeptide having theactivity as specified above (constraining the L2 polypeptide or afragment thereof). Variants also encompass polynucleotides comprising anucleic acid sequence which is capable of hybridizing to theaforementioned specific nucleic acid sequences, preferably, understringent hybridization conditions. These stringent conditions are knownto the skilled worker and can be found in Current Protocols in MolecularBiology, John Wiley & Sons, N. Y. (1989), 6.3.1-6.3.6. A preferredexample for stringent hybridization conditions are hybridizationconditions in 6× sodium chloride/sodium citrate (=SSC) at approximately45° C., followed by one or more wash steps in 0.2×SSC, 0.1% SDS at 50 to65° C. The skilled worker knows that these hybridization conditionsdiffer depending on the type of nucleic acid and, for example whenorganic solvents are present, with regard to the temperature andconcentration of the buffer. For example, under “standard hybridizationconditions” the temperature differs depending on the type of nucleicacid between 42° C. and 58° C. in aqueous buffer with a concentration of0.1 to 5×SSC (pH 7.2). If an organic solvent is present in the abovementioned buffer, for example 50% formamide, the temperature understandard conditions is approximately 42° C. The hybridization conditionsfor DNA:DNA hybrids are preferably for example 0.1×SSC and 20° C. to 45°C., preferably between 30° C. and 45° C. The hybridization conditionsfor DNA:RNA hybrids are preferably, for example, 0.1×SSC and 30° C. to55° C., preferably between 45° C. and 55° C. The above mentionedhybridization temperatures are determined for example for a nucleic acidwith approximately 100 bp (=base pairs) in length and a G+C content of50% in the absence of formamide. The skilled worker knows how todetermine the hybridization conditions required by referring totextbooks such as the textbook mentioned above, or the followingtextbooks: Sambrook et al., “Molecular Cloning”, Cold Spring HarborLaboratory, 1989; Hames and Higgins (Ed.) 1985, “Nucleic AcidsHybridization: A Practical Approach”, IRL Press at Oxford UniversityPress, Oxford; Brown (Ed.) 1991, “Essential Molecular Biology: APractical Approach”, IRL Press at Oxford University Press, Oxford.Alternatively, polynucleotide variants are obtainable by PCR-basedtechniques such as mixed oligonucleotide primer-based amplification ofDNA, i.e. using degenerated primers against conserved domains of thepolypeptides of the present invention. Conserved domains of thepolypeptide of the present invention may be identified by a sequencecomparison of the nucleic acid sequence of the polynucleotide or theamino acid sequence of the polypeptide of the present invention withsequences of other members of the enzyme families referred to inaccordance with this invention. Oligonucleotides suitable as PCR primersas well as suitable PCR conditions are described in the accompanyingExamples. As a template, DNA or cDNA from bacteria, fungi, plants oranimals may be used. Further, variants include polynucleotidescomprising nucleic acid sequences which are at least 70%, at least 75%,at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% orat least 99% identical to the specific nucleic acid sequences. Moreover,also encompassed are polynucleotides which comprise nucleic acidsequences encoding amino acid sequences which are at least 70%, at least75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least98% or at least 99% identical to the specific amino acid sequencesreferred to herein. The percent identity values are, preferably,calculated over the entire amino acid or nucleotide sequence region. Aseries of programs based on a variety of algorithms is available to theskilled worker for comparing different sequences. In this context, thealgorithms of Needleman and Wunsch or Smith and Waterman giveparticularly reliable results. To carry out the sequence alignments, theprogram PileUp (Higgins 1989, CABIOS, 5 1989: 151-153) or the programsGap and BestFit (Needleman 1970, J. Mol. Biol. 48; 443-453 and Smith198, Adv. Appl. Math. 2: 482-489), which are part of the GCG softwarepacket from Genetics Computer Group, 575 Science Drive, Madison, Wis.,USA 53711, version 1991, are to be used. The sequence identity valuesrecited above in percent (%) are to be determined, preferably, using theprogram GAP over the entire sequence region with the following settings:Gap Weight: 50, Length Weight: 3, Average Match: 10.000 and AverageMismatch: 0.000, which, unless otherwise specified, shall always be usedas standard settings for sequence alignments.

Moreover, the present invention relates to a vaccine comprising theimmunogenic polypeptide according to the invention.

The term “vaccine” as used herein, preferably, relates to a compositionwhich—when administered to an animal, preferably a human—elicits animmune response against various HPV genotypes. Thus, administering saidvaccine would stimulate the immune system and establish or improveimmunity to infection with various HPV genotypes. Preferably, thevaccine according to the present invention allows for establishing orimproving immunity to infection with human papillomavirus genotypes 16,18, 31, 45 and 58. Preferably, the vaccine according to the presentinvention also allows for establishing or improving immunity toinfection with human papillomavirus genotypes 6, 52, 2, 27, 57 and/or11. It is to be understood that the vaccine according to the presentinvention may comprise further components.

A preferred further component is an adjuvant. Adjuvants are compoundswhich may not elicit an immune response when administered to the hostalone but which may further enhance the immune response of the host whenadministered together with the immunogenic polypeptides. It is known inthe art that adjuvants may act as surfactants which promoteconcentration of immunogenic polypeptides over a large surface area, ormay have immunostimulatory properties.

Preferred adjuvants in the context of the present invention are muramyldipeptide, saponins such as QS21 and Quil A, monophosphoryl lipid A,mineral oil/surfactant mixtures (e.g., Montanide), aluminum hydroxide,aluminum phosphate, hydroxyapatite, complete and/or incomplete Freund'sadjuvant, or cytokines such as interleukins, macrophage derivedchemokines, complement binding proteins and tumor necrosis factor(either free or fused to the scaffold protein), and human use-approvedlive microbial carriers such as the live attenuated Salmonella entericaserovar Typhimurium strain.

Moreover the present invention relates to the use of the immunogenicpolypeptide according the invention for the preparation of a vaccine forimmunization of a subject against infection with HPV.

Preferably, said subject is an animal, more preferably, said subject isa vertebrate, even more preferably, said subject is a mammal and, mostpreferably, said subject is a human. Preferably, the immunization ofsaid subject, establishes or improves immunity of said subject tovarious HPV genotypes as referred to elsewhere herein. It is to beunderstood that the immunogenic polypeptide according to the inventionor vaccine according to the invention has to be administered to saidsubject for immunization. Said administration can be done by any methoddeemed appropriate such as oral or parenteral administration.

Moreover, the present invention relates to a method for producing anantibody against the immunogenic polypeptide according to the invention,comprising the following steps:

a) providing the immunogenic polypeptide according to the invention;

b) immunizing a host with said immunogenic polypeptide, and

c) harvesting the antibody against said immunogenic polypeptide.

Preferably, the host will be sacrificed after the method has beencarried out. It is to be understood that such a method is not deemed tobe a method of treatment of the human or animal body.

The “host” in the context may be any host deemed appropriate.Preferably, the host is a non-human host. Preferred host for theproduction of monoclonal antibodies is a mouse or a rabbit. A host forthe production of polyclonal antibodies is preferably selected from thegroup consisting of rabbits, mice, chickens, goats, guinea pigs,hamsters, horses, rats, and sheep.

Antibodies against the immunogenic polypeptide according to the presentinvention can be prepared by well-known methods using said immunogenicpolypeptide as an antigen. Preferably, the produced antibody is apolyclonal antibody. More preferably, said antibody is a monoclonalantibody.

Most preferably, said monoclonal antibody is produced by the hybridomacell line which has been deposited with the German Collection ofMicroorganisms and Cell Cultures (DSMZ), Braunschweig, Germany on Nov.27, 2008 under deposit number DSM ACC2983 according to the BudapestTreaty, or a fragment thereof (preferably, F(ab)2, F(ab′)2, Fab, F(ab′), Dab, Fv, sFv, scFv, or Fc fragments), or said monoclonal antibodyproduced by the hybridoma cell line which has been deposited with theGerman Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures (DSMZ),Braunschweig, Germany on Nov. 27, 2008 under deposit number DSM ACC2984according to the Budapest Treaty, or a fragment thereof (preferably,F(ab)2, F(ab′)2, Fab, F (ab′), Dab, Fv, sFv, scFv, or Fc fragments). Themonoclonal antibody produced by the hybridoma cell line which has beendeposited with the German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures(DSMZ), Braunschweig, Germany on Nov. 27, 2008 under deposit number DSMACC2983 is herein also referred to as K4L2(20-38)4.1B. The monoclonalantibody produced by the hybridoma cell line which has been depositedwith the German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures (DSMZ),Braunschweig, Germany on Nov. 27, 2008 under deposit number DSM ACC2984is herein also referred to as K18L2(20-38)XIII.5G.

It is also contemplated by the present invention that the antibody is asingle chain antibody, a recombinant, human or humanized antibody orprimatized, chimerized or a fragment of the antibody according to thepresent invention.

Also comprised by the aforementioned method of the present invention isthe production of a synthetic antibody, an antibody fragment, such asF(ab)2, F(ab′)2, Fab, F (ab′), Dab, Fv, sFv, scFv, or Fc fragments etc.,or a chemically modified derivative of any of these. The antibody maybelong to any immunoglobulin class, including IgM, IgG, IgD, IgE, IgA,or subclasses of IgG (such as IgG1, IgG2, IgG2, IgG2a, IgG2b, IgG3 orIgGM).

How to produce and harvest the aforementioned antibodies and fragmentsis well known in the art. Antibodies or fragments thereof can beobtained by using methods which are described, e.g., in Harlow and Lane“Antibodies, A Laboratory Manual”, CSH Press, Cold Spring Harbor, 1988.Monoclonal antibodies can be prepared by the techniques originallydescribed in Köhler and Milstein, Nature 256 (1975), 495, and Galfré,Meth. Enzymol. 73 (1981), 3, which comprise the fusion of mouse myelomacells to spleen cells derived from immunized mammals. It is alsocontemplated that monoclonal antibodies are produced by fusing myelomacells with the B-cells from rabbits that have been immunized with thedesired antigen.

It is to be understood that the antibody produced by the aforementionedmethod shall specifically bind the immunogenic polypeptide according tothe invention. Specific binding can be tested by various well knowntechniques. Preferably, the antibody produced by the aforementionedmethod shall specifically bind the L2 polypeptide or fragment thereof.More preferably, said antibody shall specifically bind the L2polypeptide or fragment thereof, when comprised by the immunogenicpolypeptide according to the present invention (linked to the scaffoldpolypeptide), and thus when being present in a constrained structure.Thus, the antibody according to the present invention shall notspecifically bind the parts of the immunogenic polypeptide that arederived from the scaffold polypeptide.

The aforementioned method of the present invention, preferably, allowsfor the production of an antibody against human papillomavirus.Preferably, said antibody binds the L2 polypeptide or fragments thereofof various HPV genotypes. Preferably, said antibody binds the L2polypeptide or fragment thereof of HPV genotypes 16, 18, 31, 45 and 58.Preferably, the said antibody also binds the L2 polypeptide or fragmentsthereof of HPV genotypes 52, 2, 27, 57 and/or 11.

The present invention relates also to an antibody obtainable/produced bythe aforementioned method of the present invention.

Said antibody of the present invention, preferably is a polyclonalantibody and, more preferably, a monoclonal antibody.

Most preferably, the antibody according to the present invention is themonoclonal antibody K4L2(20-38)4.1B (see Examples) produced by thehybridoma cell line which has been deposited with the German Collectionof Microorganisms and Cell Cultures (DSMZ), Braunschweig, Germany onNov. 27, 2008 under deposit number DSM ACC2983 according to the BudapestTreaty, or a fragment thereof (preferably, F(ab)2, F(ab′)2, Fab, F(ab′), Dab, Fv, sFv, scFv, or Fc fragments), or the antibody accordingto the present invention is the monoclonal antibody K18L2(20-38)XIII.5G(see Examples), which has been deposited with the German Collection ofMicroorganisms and Cell Cultures (DSMZ), Braunschweig, Germany on Nov.27, 2008 under deposit number DSM ACC2984 according to the BudapestTreaty, or a fragment thereof (preferably, F(ab)2, F(ab′)2, Fab, F(ab′), Dab, Fv, sFv, scFv, or Fc fragments).

The antibodies according to the present invention can be used, forexample, for the immunoprecipitation and immunolocalization of theimmunogenic polypeptides of the present invention as well as formonitoring the presence of said variant polypeptides; for example, forthe diagnosis of HPV infection, particularly for diagnosing infectionwith HPV genotypes 16, 18, 31, 45 and/or 58. Preferably, said diagnosisis done by determining the amount (or presence) of the L2 polypeptide ina biological sample from a subject suspected to be infected with HPVgenotype 16, 18, 31, 45 and/or 58 (e.g. in a Pap smear). The presence ofthe L2 polypeptide (or increased amounts of the L2 polypeptide comparedwith a reference amount, e.g. the amount of said polypeptide in a samplefrom a subject not infected with HPV) indicates infection with HPV,whereas the absence of the L2 polypeptide (or decreased amounts of theL2 polypeptide compared with a reference amount, e.g. the amount of saidpolypeptide in a sample of a subject not infected with HPV) indicatesthat said subject is not infected with HPV.

Moreover, the antibodies according to the present invention can be usedfor the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for passiveimmunization against various HPV genotypes, particularly against HPVgenotypes 16, 18, 31, 45 and/or 58. For passive immunization, theantibody according to the present invention is administered to a subjectin order to protect said subject against infection with various HPVgenotypes and/or to treat an existing HPV infection, particularlyinfection with HPV genotypes 16, 18, 31, 45 or 58.

Also, the antibody of the present invention can be used for theproduction of anti-idiotypic antibodies. An “anti-idiotypic antibody” inthe context of the present invention is an antibody that specificallybinds to the idiotypic region of the antibody according to the presentinvention, or a fragment thereof. The idiotypic region of the antibodyaccording to the present invention (or a fragment thereof) is,preferably, the unique part of its variable region that specificallybinds to the immunogenic polypeptide according to the present invention.Preferably, the anti-idiotypic antibody is a monoclonal antibody.

Anti-idiotypic antibodies as well as methods for their production arewell known in the art, see, e.g., US20080127359, or U.S. Pat. No.5,792,455; Dalgleish: An anti-idiotype vaccine for AIDS based on the HIVreceptor. Ann Ist Super Sanita. 1991; 27(1):27-31, or Attanasio, Int RevImmunol. 1990; 7(1):109-19.

Preferably, said anti-idiotypic antibodies are produced by a) providingan antibody according to the present invention (preferably, a monoclonalantibody according to the invention, more preferably, K4L2(20-38)4.1B,or a fragment thereof, or K18L2(20-38)XIII.5G, or a fragment thereof),b) immunizing a host with said antibody, and c) harvesting the resultinganti-idiotypic antibody.

Accordingly, the present invention also relates to a method forproducing anti-idiotypic antibodies by carrying out the aforementionedsteps a) and b).

Moreover, the present invention relates to the use of the hybridoma cellline which has been deposited with the German Collection ofMicroorganisms and Cell Cultures (DSMZ), Braunschweig, Germany on Nov.27, 2008 under deposit number DSM ACC2983, and to the use of thehybridoma cell line which has been deposited with the German Collectionof Microorganisms and Cell Cultures (DSMZ), Braunschweig, Germany onNov. 27, 2008 under deposit number DSM ACC2984 for the production of amonoclonal antibody that specifically binds the L2 peptide (as describedherein).

Finally, the present invention also relates to the hybridoma cell linewhich has been deposited with the German Collection of Microorganismsand Cell Cultures (DSMZ), Braunschweig, Germany on Nov. 27, 2008 underdeposit number DSM ACC2983 or under deposit number DSM ACC2984 accordingto the Budapest Treaty.

All references cited in this specification are herewith incorporated byreference with respect to their entire disclosure content and thedisclosure content specifically mentioned in this specification.

The Figures show:

FIGS. 1A-1D. Trx-L2 peptides. (A) Schematic representation of the HPV16L2 peptides examined in this study. L2 aa 1-120 1×(1×SEQ ID NO:1+1×SEQID NO:24, thus the L2 polypeptide having a sequence as shown in SEQ IDNO1 inserted within the display site of the thioredoxin polypeptidehaving a sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:24), 2×(SEQ ID NO:1 (2×)+SEQ IDNO:16(1×)+SEQ ID NO:24, thus two fragments of the L2 polypeptide, saidfragments having a sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:2, said fragmentslinked via one linker peptide having a sequence as shown in SEQ IDNO:16, inserted within the display site of the thioredoxin polypeptidehaving a sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:24), 3×(SEQ ID NO:1 (3×)+SEQ IDNO:16(2×)+SEQ ID NO:24); L2 aa 20-38 1×(SEQ IS NO:2+SEQ ID NO:24),3×(SEQ ID NO:29), 9×(SEQ ID NO:30), 15×(SEQ IS NO:2 (15×)+SEQ ID NO:16(14×)+SEQ ID NO:24); L2 aa 28-42 1×, 4×, 8×; L2 aa 56-75 1×, 4×; L2 aa64-81 1×, 4×, 8×; L2 aa 95-115 1×, 4×, 8×. (B) Representative example ofthe expression analysis of pTrx-L2(20-38)n constructs with varying L2peptide insert multiplicity (n). SDS-PAGE of total bacterial lysatesfrom different clones ordered according to the multiplicity of theirL2(20-38) peptide inserts; the peptide insert multiplicity (n) of thevarious fusion proteins and the migration positions of molecular massmarkers are indicated on the right hand side and on the left hand side,respectively. (C) Representative examples of purified Trx-L2(20-38)nfusion proteins used for mice immunization (1) L2 aa 20-38 1×(SEQ ISNO:2+SEQ ID NO:24), 3×(SEQ ID NO:29), 9×(SEQ ID NO:30), 15×(SEQ IS NO:2(15×)+SEQ ID NO:16 (14×)+SEQ ID NO:24). (D) Comparison of the immuneresponses elicited by the HPV16 L2(20-38) peptide chemically conjugatedto KLH and by the same peptide grafted to Trx, both administered (100μg/dose) with the same CFA/IFA immunization protocol described in‘Materials and methods’. ELISA data, obtained using GST-L2 as targetantigen and expressed as A405 values, are presented as dot plots. The L2binding activity of individual sera as well as the mean binding activityof each group (horizontal bars) are shown; KLH and Trx indicate theunconjugated carrier proteins utilized as negative controls. Please notethat the numbers correspond to the amino acid positions of the L2polypeptide as shown in SEQ ID NO:1. E.g., “L2(20-38)” stands for afragment of the L2 polypeptide as shown in SEQ ID NO:1 comprising aminoacids 20 to 28 of said polypeptide.

FIG. 2. Antibody titers of mice vaccinated with the Trx-L2 peptidefusions. GST-L2 ELISA was used to determine the antibody titers of serafrom mice immunized three times with the indicated Trx-L2(peptide)nfusions, for group L2 aa 20-38 1×(SEQ IS NO:2+SEQ ID NO:24), 3×(SEQ IDNO:29), 9×(SEQ ID NO:30), 15×(SEQ IS NO:2 (15×)+SEQ ID NO:16 (14×)+SEQID NO:24) and group Trx-L2 L2 aa 1-120 1×(1×SEQ ID NO:1+1×SEQ ID NO:24),2×(SEQ ID NO:1 (2×)+SEQ ID NO:16(1×)+SEQ ID NO:24), 3×(SEQ ID NO:1(3×)+SEQ ID NO:16(2×)+SEQ ID NO:24); L2 aa 28-42 1×, 4×, 8×; L2 aa 56-751×, 4×; L2 aa 64-81 1×, 4×, 8×; L2 aa 95-115 1×, 4×, 8× (100 μg each,corresponding to 1.7-4.3 nmol of protein, depending on the size of thepeptide insert; n values are shown on the x-axis) administered with theCFA/IFA immunization protocol described in ‘Materials and methods’. Serafrom mice immunized with the Trx protein scaffold only (not shown) wereused as negative controls and were assayed in parallel in each set ofELISAs. Binding titers are given as the reciprocal of the maximumantisera dilutions that yielded A405 values higher than the meanabsorbance plus four standard deviations of sera from mice immunizedwith the Trx scaffold only. Data are presented as log 10 dot-plots ofthe titers; horizontal bars represent the geometric mean of the titersfor each of the indicated subgroups of Trx-L2 antisera. The P values ineach panel indicate the statistical significance of the differencesbetween the immune responses induced by monopeptide and multipeptideTrx-L2 fusions in each group.

FIG. 3. Neutralization of HPV 16 infection by Trx-L2 peptide antisera.Serial dilutions of antisera raised against the monopeptide andmultipeptide Trx-L2 fusions shown in FIG. 2 were analyzed for theircapacity to block infection of 293TT cells by HPV16 pseudovirions usingsecreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) activity as readout. Neutralizationefficiency was determined relative to that of mock-treated (0%neutralization) and HPV 16 L1-specific mAb-treated (100% neutralization)controls, which were run in parallel in each assay (see ‘Materials andmethods’ for details). Data for the monopeptide and the aggregatedmultipeptide forms of each Trx-L2 immunogen L2 aa 20-38 1×(SEQ ISNO:2+SEQ ID NO:24), 3×(SEQ ID NO:29), 9×(SEQ ID NO:30), 15×(SEQ IS NO:2(15×)+SEQ ID NO:16 (14×)+SEQ ID NO:24); L2 aa 28-42 1×, 4×, 8×; L2 aa56-75 1×, 4×; L2 aa 64-81 1×, 4×, 8× and L2 aa 95-115 1×, 4×, 8× areexpressed as the reciprocal of the maximum dilution causing ≧70%neutralization. The geometric means of the titers and the 95% confidenceintervals for each group of anti-Trx-L2 peptide antisera plus theanti-Trx-L2(1-120) 1×(1×SEQ ID NO:1+1×SEQ ID NO:24), 2×(SEQ ID NO:1(2×)+SEQ ID NO:16(1×)+SEQ ID NO:24), 3×(SEQ ID NO:1 (3×)+SEQ IDNO:16(2×)+SEQ ID NO:24) reference are represented on a log scale.

FIG. 4. Cross-neutralization of HPV 31, 45, and 58 pseudovirions. Thecrossneutralization activities of the indicated subset of Trx-L2 peptideantisera were assayed at a fixed 1:200 dilution against threeheterologous pseudovirions (HPV 31, 45 and 58) plus the cognate HPV16type. Mock-treated 293TT cells and cells treated with type-specificneutralizing antibodies served as negative and positive controls,respectively (see FIG. 3) legend and ‘Materials and methods’ fordetails). Cumulative monopeptide and multipeptide data are presented foreach immunogen except Trx-L2 aa 20-38 1×(SEQ IS NO:2+SEQ ID NO:24),3×(SEQ ID NO:29), 9×(SEQ ID NO:30), 15×(SEQ IS NO:2 (15×)+SEQ ID NO:16(14×)+SEQ ID NO:24), the only one for which a trend toward a peptidemultiplicity-dependent increase in cross-neutralization activity wasobserved; they are represented as the mean plus SD of the neutralizationvalues for the various Trx-L2 peptide antisera relative to thoseobtained with HPV type-specific antibodies.

FIG. 5. Neutralization of homologous and heterologous pseudovirions byTrx-L2(20-38)n antisera. The strongest HPV 16 neutralizing antisera fromeach group of Trx-L2(20-38)n antigens (n=1, 3, 9, 15) 1×(SEQ IS NO:2+SEQID NO:24), 3×(SEQ ID NO:29), 9×(SEQ ID NO:30), 15×(SEQ IS NO:2 (15×)+SEQID NO:16 (14×)+SEQ ID NO:24) were titrated against homologous (HPV16)and heterologous (HPV18, 31, 45, 58) pseudovirions (see ‘Materials andmethods’ and FIG. 3 legend for details).

FIG. 6. Sequence comparison of the L2(20-38) region of the examined HPVtypes. Multiple sequence alignment was performed with CLUSTAL W [30];amino acids identical to those of the cognate HPV16 type are indicatedwith dots. Conservative and non-conservative substitutions are shown instandard and in bold characters, respectively; non-conservativesubstitutions occurring in only one of the five examined HPV types areboxed.

FIG. 7. Neutralizing titers of supernatants of monoclonal antibodiesagainst the aa 20-31 from HPV16 L2 protein

IgG concentration in supernatants was adjusted to 0.6 μg/ml, titer wasdefined as the last dilution that can protect 70% of pseudovirionsinfection. There are not big differences in the neutralization capacityof antibodies #4 (K4L2(20-38)4.1B) and #18 (K18L2(20-38)XIII.5G) exceptfor the neutralization of HPV31. Antibody #18 can neutralize theinfection although with low titer, but, antibody #4 is unable toneutralize the infection even at low dilution factor. Antibody #8 and #1can neutralize only HPV16. Antibody #1 can neutralize HPV 16 with hightiter.

FIG. 8. Identification of epitopes recognized by neutralizing (boxed)and non-neutralizing antibodies

The different monoclonal antibodies raised against different regions ofthe HPV 16 N-terminus were tested for their reactivity with a set ofoverlapping peptides (amino acids 1-15, 5-19, 106-120) in ELISA. Allfour neutralizing antibodies show a distinct pattern in binding thepeptides, different to the pattern of the non-neutralizing antibodies.The two cross-neutralizing antibodies (K4L2(20-38)4.1B) and #18(K18L2(20-38)XIII.5G) are directed against region 20-38. Antibody #15,which shows a similar binding pattern compared to #18, has an about 30fold lower affinity to its target which explains its failure toneutralize HPV pseudovirions.

FIG. 9. Epitopes for non-neutralizing, neutralizing andcross-neutralizing antibodies (K4L2(20-38)4.1B and K18L2(20-38)XIII.5G)within region 20-42 of HPV 16 L2. Scheme with the recognition patron ofall mAbs isolated against the region 20-42. Cross-neutralizingantibodies Mab K4L2(20-38)4.1B recognize the sequence aa 21-30 SEQ IDNO:4 and K18L2(20-38)XIII.5G recognize the sequence aa 22-30 SEQ IDNO:5. Neutralizing antibody anti HPV16 K8L2(28-42)12.4B recognize thesequence aa 32-39 SEQ ID NO:31.

FIGS. 10A-10B. Epitope mapping for the two neutralizing antibodies(K4L2(20-38)4.1B) and #18 (K18L2(20-38)XIII.5G). To determine the aminoacids required for binding of the two antibodies K4 (A9 and K18 (B) anpeptide-alanine scan was performed. Antibody #4 the five amino acidsxTCKxxxxCPxx are essential for binding while for K8 only the twocysteine residues are crucial for binding, although the remainderresidues might contribute to the binding.

FIG. 11. Neutralization assay of HPV 16 and HPV 31 pseudovirions withmodified L2 proteins. To determine why antibodies #4 (K4L2(20-38)4.1B)and #18 (K18L2(20-38)XIII.5G) have different abilities to neutralize HPV31 we tested hybrid particles composed of HPV 16 L1 HPV 31 L2 and viceversa. In addition, the corresponding epitope in HPV 31 recognized by K4and K18 was modified. Results indicate that the ability of(K4L2(20-38)4.1B) and #18 (K18L2(20-38)XIII.5G) antibodies to neutralizedepends on the epitope sequence as HPV 31 L1/16L2 pseudovirions can beneutralized by both antibodies. Altering serine at position 30 intoproline restores the ability to neutralize HPV 31 pseudovirionsindicating that this residue is important in binding the antibodies.

EXAMPLES Example 1

Monopeptide (1×SEQ ID NO:2) and multipeptide ((SEQ ID NO:2 (3×)+SEQ IDNO:16(2×)) or 3×(SEQ ID NO:2 (3×)+SEQ ID NO:16(2×)) immunogenic peptidesare inserted within the display site of the thioredoxin polypeptidehaving a sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 493 to SEQ ID NO: 496. Fusionproteins are produced in E. coli cells, purified from cell extracts andused for immunization.

TABLE 1 List of L2 peptide immunogens (and variants thereof)SEQ ID NO: 33 RGCKQAGTCPPDVINKVEQ SEQ ID NO: 34 RGCKASNTCPPDVINKVEQSEQ ID NO: 35 RGCKAAGTCPPDVINKVEQ SEQ ID NO: 36 QSCKAAGTCPPDVLNKVEQSEQ ID NO: 37 QSCKAAGTCPPDVVNKVEQ SEQ ID NO: 38 QTCKQAGTCPPDVINKVEQSEQ ID NO: 39 QTCKQAGTCPPDVVNKVEQ SEQ ID NO: 40 RTCKQAGTCPPDVINKVESSEQ ID NO: 41 RTCKQAGTCPPDVINKVEQ SEQ ID NO: 42 KGCKASGTCPPDVINKVEQSEQ ID NO: 43 RTCKQSGTCPPDVVPKVEG SEQ ID NO: 44 RTCKQAGTCPPDVIPKVEGSEQ ID NO: 45 RTCKVTGTCPADVVPKVEG SEQ ID NO: 46 RTCKATGTRPADVIPKVEGSEQ ID NO: 47 RTCKQSGTCPPDIIPRVEQ SEQ ID NO: 48 RTCKQAGTCPPDIIPRLEQSEQ ID NO. 49 RTCKQAGTCPPDIIPRVEQ SEQ ID NO: 50 KTCKVAGTCPPDVIPKVEGSEQ ID NO: 51 KTCKAAGTCPPDVIPKVEG SEQID NO: 52 RTCKAAGTCPPDVIPKVEGSEQ ID NO: 53 RTCKASGTCPPDVIPKVEG SEQ ID NO: 54 STCKAAGTCPADVIPKVEGSEQ ID NO: 55 KTCKLSGTCPEDVINKVEQ SEQ ID NO: 56 KTCKQSGTCPPDIIPRVEGSEQ ID NO: 57 KTCKQAGTCPPDIVPKVEG SEQ ID NO: 58 QTCKASGTCPPDVIPKVEGSEQ ID NO: 59 KTCKQAGTCPPDVIPKVEG SEQ ID NO: 60 QTCKAAGTCPSDIIPKVEHSEQ ID NO: 61 QTCKASGTCPPDVIPKVEQ SEQ ID NO: 62 QTCKLTGTCPPDVIPKVEHSEQ ID NO: 63 QTCKAAGTCPSDVINKVEH SEQ ID NO: 64 KQCQLGADCPPDVRNKVEGSEQ ID NO: 65 AKCQLSGNCLPDVKNKVEA SEQ ID NO: 66 AKCQLSGDCLPDVKNKVEASEQ ID NO: 67 RHCALSGTCPDDVKNKVEN SEQ ID NO: 68 KHCAGSGTCPEDVKNKVEQSEQ ID NO: 69 KTCLQGGDCIPDVKNKFEN SEQ ID NO: 70 RSCLQGGDCIPDVQNKFEGSEQ ID NO: 71 QTCKATGTCPPDVIPKVEG SEQ ID NO. 72 KTCKQSGTCPPDVVPKVEGSEQ ID NO: 73 RTCKQSGTCPPDVINKVEG SEQ ID NO: 74 KTCKQAGTCPSDVINKVEGSEQ ID NO: 75 KTCKLSGTCPEDVVNKIEQ SEQ ID NO: 76 RTCKQSGTCPPDVVDKVEGSEQ ID NO: 77 STCKAAGTCPPDVVNKVEG SEQ ID NO: 78 PTCK1AGNCPADIQNKFENSEQ ID NO: 79 PACKISNTCPPDIINKYEN SEQ ID NO: 80 RGCKQAGTCPPDSEQ ID NO: 81 RGCKASNTCPPD SEQ ID NO: 82 RGCKAAGTCPPDSEQ ID NO: 83 QSCKAAGTCPPD SEQ ID NO: 84 QTCKQAGTCPPDSEQ ID NO: 85 RTCKQAGTCPPD SEQ ID NO: 86 KGCKASGTCPPDSEQ ID NO: 87 RTCKQSGTCPPD SEQ ID NO: 88 RTCKVTGTCPADSEQ ID NO: 89 RTCKATGTRPAD SEQ ID NO: 90 KTCKVAGTCPPDSEQ ID NO: 91 KTCKAAGTCPPD SEQ ID NO: 92 RTCKAAGTCPPDSEQ ID NO: 93 RTCKASGTCPPD SEQ ID NO. 94 STCKAAOTCPADSEQ ID NO: 95 KTCKLSGTCPED SEQ ID NO: 96 KTCKQAGTCPEDSEQ ID NO: 97 QTCKASGTCPPD SEQ ID NO: 98 QTCKAAGTCPSDSEQ ID NO: 99 QTCKLTGTCPPD SEQ ID NO: 100 KQCQLGADCPPDSEQ ID NO: 101 AKCQLSGNCLPD SEQ ID NO: 102 AKCQLSGDCLPDSEQ ID NO: 103 RHCALSGTCPDD SEQ ID NO: 104 KHCAGSGTCPEDSEQ ID NO: 105 KTCLQGGDCIPD SEQ ID NO: 106 RSCLQGGDCIPDSEQ ID NO: 107 QTCKATGTCPPD SEQ ID NO: 108 KTCKQSGTCPPDSEQ ID NO: 109 KTCKQAGTCPSD SEQ ID NO: 110 STCKAAGTCPPDSEQ ID NO: 111 PTCKIAGNCPAD SEQ ID NO: 112 PACKISNTCPPDSEQ ID NO: 113 GCKQAGTCPPD SEQ ID NO: 114 GCKASNTCPPDSEQ ID NO: 115 GCKAAGTCPPD SEQ ID NO: 116 SCKAAGTCPPDSEQ ID NO: 117 TCKQSGTCPSD SEQ ID NO: 118 GCKASGTCPPDSEQ ID NO: 119 TCKQSGTCPPD SEQ ID NO: 120 TCKVTGTCPADSEQ ID NO: 121 TCKATGTRPAD SEQ ID NO: 122 TCKVAGTCPPDSEQ ID NO: 123 TCKAAGTCPPD SEQ ID NO: 124 TCKASGTCPPDSEQ ID NO: 125 TCKAAGTCPAD SEQ ID NO: 126 TCKLSGTCPEDSEQ ID NO: 127 TCKAAGTCPSD SEQ ID NO: 128 TCKLTGTCPPDSEQ ID NO: 129 QCQLGADCPPD SEQ ID NO: 130 KCQLSGNCLPDSEQ ID NO: 131 KCQLSGDCLPD SEQ ID NO: 132 HCALSGTCPDDSEQ ID NO: 133 HCAGSGTCPED SEQ ID NO: 134 TCLQGGDCIPDSEQ ID NO: 135 SCLQGGDCIPD SEQ ID NO: 136 TCKATGTCPPDSEQ ID NO: 137 TCKQAGTCPSD SEQ ID NO: 138 TCKIAGNCPADSEQ ID NO: 139 ACKISNTCPPD SEQ ID NO: 140 CKQSGTCPDDSEQ ID NO: 141 CKASNTCPPD SEQ ID NO: 142 CKAAGTCPPDSEQ ID NO: 143 CKASGTCPPD SEQ ID NO: 144 CKQSGTCPPDSEQ ID NO: 145 CKVTGTCPAD SEQ ID NO: 146 CKATGTRPADSEQ ID NO: 147 CKVAGTCPPD SEQ ID NO: 148 CKAAGTCPADSEQ ID NO: 149 CKLSGTCPED SEQ ID NO: 150 CKAAGTCPSDSEQ ID NO: 151 CKLTGTCPPD SEQ ID NO: 152 CQLGADCPPDSEQ ID NO: 153 CQLSGNCLPD SEQ ID NO: 154 CQLSGDCLPDSEQ ID NO: 155 CALSGTCPDD SEQ ID NO: 156 CAGSGTCPEDSEQ ID NO: 157 CLQGGDCIPD SEQ ID NO: 158 CKATGTCPPDSEQ ID NO: 159 CKQAGTCPSD SEQ ID NO: 160 CKIAGNCPADSEQ ID NO: 161 CKISNTCPPD SEQ ID NO: 162 GCKQAGTCPPSEQ ID NO: 163 GCKASNTCPP SEQ ID NO: 164 GCKAAGTCPPSEQ ID NO: 165 SCKAAGTCPP SEQ ID NO: 166 TCKLAGTCPPSEQ ID NO: 167 GCKASGTCPP SEQ ID NO: 168 TCKQSGTCPPSEQ ID NO: 169 TCKVTGTCPA SEQ ID NO: 170 TCKATGTRPASEQ ID NO: 171 TCKVAGTCPP SEQ ID NO: 172 TCKAAGTCPPSEQ ID NO: 173 TCKASGTCPP SEQ ID NO: 174 TCKAAGTCPASEQ ID NO: 175 TCKLSGTCPE SEQ ID NO: 176 TCKAAGTCPSSEQ ID NO: 177 TCKLTGTCPP SEQ ID NO: 178 QCQLGADCPPSEQ ID NO: 179 KCQLSGNCLP SEQ ID NO: 180 KCQLSGDCLPSEQ ID NO: 181 HCALSGTCPD SEQ ID NO: 182 HCAGSGTCPESEQ ID NO: 183 TCLQGGDCIP SEQ ID NO: 184 SCLQGGDCIPSEQ ID NO: 185 TCKATGTCPP SEQ ID NO: 186 TCKQAGTCPSSEQ ID NO: 187 TCKIAGNCPA SEQ ID NO: 188 ACKISNTCPPSEQ ID NO: 189 CKLAGTCPP SEQ ID NO: 190 CKASNTCPPSEQ ID NO: 191 CKAAGTCPP SEQ ID NO: 192 CKASGTCPPSEQ ID NO: 193 CKQSGTCPP SEQ ID NO: 194 CKVTGTCPASEQ ID NO: 195 CKATGTRPA SEQ ID NO: 196 CKVAGTCPPSEQ ID NO: 197 CKAAGTCPA SEQ ID NO: 198 CKLSGTCPESEQ ID NO: 199 CKAAGTCPS SEQ ID NO: 200 CKLTGTCPPSEQ ID NO: 201 CQLGADCPP SEQ ID NO: 202 CQLSGNCLPSEQ ID NO: 203 CQLSGDCLP SEQ ID NO: 204 CALSGTCPDSEQ ID NO: 205 CAGSGTCPE SEQ ID NO: 206 CLQGGDCIPSEQ ID NO: 207 CKATGTCPP SEQ ID NO: 208 CKQAGTCPSSEQ ID NO: 209 CKIAGNCPA SEQ ID NO: 210 CKISNTCPPSEQ ID NO: 211 DVINKVEQTT SEQ ID NO: 212 DVINKVEQSTSEQ ID NO: 213 DVINKVEQKT SEQ ID NO: 214 DVLNKVEQTTSEQ ID NO: 215 DVVNKVEQTT SEQ ID NO: 216 DVINKVESTTSEQ ID NO: 217 DVINKVEQNT SEQ ID NO: 218 DVVPKVEGDTSEQ ID NO: 219 DVIPKVEGDT SEQ ID NO: 220 DIIPRVEQNTSEQ ID NO: 221 DIIPRLEQNT SEQ ID NO: 222 DIIPRVEQDTSEQ ID NO: 223 DVIPKVEGTT SEQ ID NO: 224 DIIPKVEQKTSEQ ID NO: 225 DVIPKVEGST SEQ ID NO: 226 DIIPKVEHNTSEQ ID NO: 227 DVIPKVEQNT SEQ ID NO: 228 DVIPKVEHNTSEQ ID NO: 229 DVINKVEHTT SEQ ID NO: 230 DVRNKVEGTTSEQ ID NO: 231 DVKNKVEADT SEQ ID NO: 232 DVKNKVEANTSEQ ID NO: 233 DVKNKVENNT SEQ ID NO: 234 DVKNKVEQTTSEQ ID NO: 235 DVKNKFENST SEQ ID NO: 236 DVQNKFEGNTSEQ ID NO: 237 DIQNKIEQTT SEQ ID NO: 238 DVIKRYEQTTSEQ ID NO: 239 VINKVEQTT SEQ ID NO: 240 VINKVEQSTSEQ ID NO: 241 VINKVEQKT SEQ ID NO: 242 VLNKVEQTTSEQ ID NO: 243 VVNKVEQTT SEQ ID NO: 244 VINKVESTTSEQ ID NO: 245 VINKVEQNT SEQ ID NO: 246 VVPKVEGDTSEQ ID NO: 247 VIPKVEGDT SEQ ID NO: 248 IIPRVEQNTSEQ ID NO: 249 IIPRLEQNT SEQ ID NO: 250 IIPRVEQDTSEQ ID NO: 251 VIPKVEGTT SEQ ID NO: 252 IIPKVEQKTSEQ ID NO: 253 VIPKVEGST SEQ ID NO: 254 IIPKVEHNTSEQ ID NO: 255 VIPKVEQNT SEQ ID NO: 256 VIPKVEHNTSEQ ID NO: 257 VINKVEHTT SEQ ID NO: 258 VRNKVEGTTSEQ ID NO: 259 VKNKVEADT SEQ ID NO: 260 VKNKVEANTSEQ ID NO: 261 VKNKVENNT SEQ ID NO: 262 VKNKVEQTTSEQ ID NO: 263 VKNKFENST SEQ ID NO: 264 VQNKFEGNTSEQ ID NO: 265 IQNKIEQTT SEQ ID NO: 266 VIKRYEQTTSEQ ID NO: 267 INKVEQTT SEQ ID NO: 268 INKVEQST SEQ ID NO: 269 INKVEQKTSEQ ID NO: 270 LNKVEQTT SEQ ID NO. 271 VNKVEQTT SEQ ID NO: 272 INKVESTTSEQ ID NO: 273 INKVEQNT SEQ ID NO: 274 VPKVEGDT SEQ ID NO: 275 IPKVEGDTSEQ ID NO: 276 IPRVEQNT SEQ ID NO: 277 IPRLEQNT SEQ ID NO: 278 IPRVEQDTSEQ ID NO: 279 IPKVEGTT SEQ ID NO: 280 IPKVEHKT SEQ ID NO: 281 IPKVEGSTSEQ ID NO: 282 IPKVEHNT SEQ ID NO: 283 IPKVEQNT SEQ ID NO: 284 INKVEHTTSEQ ID NO: 285 RNKVEGTT SEQ ID NO: 286 KNKVEADT SEQ ID NO: 287 KNKVEANTSEQ ID NO: 288 KNKVENNT SEQ ID NO: 289 KNKVEQTT SEQ ID NO: 290 KNKFENSTSEQ ID NO: 291 QNKFEGNT SEQ ID NO: 292 QNKIEQTT SEQ ID NO: 293 IKRYEQTTSEQ ID NO: 294 TGYIPLQTR SEQ ID NO: 295 TGYVPLGSTSEQ ID NO: 296 TGYVPLGNT SEQ ID NO: 297 TGYVPLSTGSEQ ID NO: 298 TGYIPLQST SEQ ID NO: 299 TGYVPVGSTSEQ ID NO: 300 TGYVPLQTS SEQ ID NO: 301 TGYVPLTTGSEQ ID NO: 302 RGCKQXGTCPPDVINKVEQ SEQ ID NO: 303 RGCKAXNTCPPDVINKVEQSEQ ID NO: 304 RGCKAXGTCPPDVINKVEQ SEQ ID NO: 305 QSCKAXGTCPPDVLNKVEQSEQ ID NO: 306 QSCKAXGTCPPDVVNKVEQ SEQ ID NO: 307 QTCKQXGTCPPDVINKVEQSEQ ID NO: 308 QTCKQXGTCPPDVVNKVEQ SEQ ID NO: 309 RTCKQXGTCPPDVINKVESSEQ ID NO: 310 RTCKQXGTCPPDVINKVEQ SEQ ID NO: 311 RGCKAXGTCPPDVINKVEQSEQ ID NO: 312 RTCKQXGTCPPDVVPKVEG SEQ ID NO: 313 RTCKQXGTCPPDVIPKVEGSEQ ID NO: 314 RTCKVXGTCPADVVPKVEG SEQ ID NO. 313 RTCKAXGTRPADVIPKVEOSEQ ID NO: 316 STCKAXGTCPPDVIPKLEG SEQ ID NO: 317 RTCKQXGTCPPDIIPRLEQSEQ ID NO: 318 RTCKQXGTCPPDIIPRVEQ SEQ ID NO: 319 KTCKVXGTCPPDVIPKVEGSEQ ID NO: 320 KTCKAXGTCPPDVIPKVEG SEQ ID NO: 321 STCKAXGTCPPDVIPKVEGSEQ ID NO: 322 RTCKAXGTCPPDVIPKVEG SEQ ID NO: 323 STCKAXGTCPADVIPKVEGSEQ ID NO: 324 KTCKLXGTCPEDVINKVEQ SEQ ID NO: 325 KTCKQXGTCPPDIIPKIEGSEQ ID NO: 326 KTCKQXGTCPPDIVPKVEG SEQ ID NO: 327 STCKQXGTCPPDIIPRVEQSEQ ID NO: 328 KTCKQXGTCPPDVIPKVEG SEQ ID NO: 329 QTCKAXGTCPSDIIPKVEHSEQ ID NO: 330 QTCKAXGTCPPDVIPKVEQ SEQ ID NO: 331 QTCKLXGTCPPDVIPKVEHSEQ ID NO: 332 QTCKAXGTCPSDVINKVEH SEQ ID NO: 333 KQCQLXADCPPDVRNKVEGSEQ ID NO: 334 AKCQLXGNCLPDVKNKVEA SEQ ID NO: 335 AKCQLXGDCLPDVKNKVEASEQ ID NO: 336 RHCALXGTCPDDVKNKVEN SEQ ID NO: 337 KHCAGXGTCPEDVKNKVEQSEQ ID NO. 338 KTCLQXGDCIPDVKNKFEN SEQ ID NO: 339 RSCLQXGDCIPDVQNKFEGSEQ ID NO: 340 QTCKAXGTCPPDVIPKVEG SEQ ID NO: 341 KTCKQXGTCPPDVVPKVEGSEQ ID NO: 342 RTCKQXGTCPPDVINKVEG SEQ ID NO: 343 KTCKQXGTCPSDVINKVEGSEQ ID NO: 344 KTCKLXGTCPEDVVNKIEQ SEQ ID NO: 345 RTCKQXGTCPPDVVDKVEGSEQ ID NO: 346 STCKAXGTCPPDVVNKVEG SEQ ID NO: 347 PTCKIXGNCPADIQNKFENSEQ ID NO: 348 PACKIXNTCPPDIINKYEN ***X = Gly (G) or Ala (A)SEQ ID NO: 349 RGCKQXGTCPPD SEQ ID NO: 350 RGCKAXNTCPPDSEQ ID NO: 351 RGCKAXGTCPPD SEQ ID NO: 352 QSCKAXGTCPPDSEQ ID NO: 353 QTCKQXGTCPPD SEQ ID NO: 354 RTCKQXGTCPPDSEQ ID NO: 355 KGCKAXGTCPPD SEQ ID NO: 356 PTCKAXGTCPPDSEQ ID NO: 357 RTCKVXGTCPAD SEQ ID NO: 358 RTCKAXGTRPADSEQ ID NO: 359 KTCKVXGTCPPD SEQ ID NO: 360 KTCKAXGTCPPDSEQ ID NO: 361 RTCKAXGTCPPD SEQ ID NO: 362 STCKAXGTRPPDSEQ ID NO: 363 STCKAXGTCPAD SEQ ID NO: 364 KTCKLXGTCPEDSEQ ID NO: 365 ATCKQXGTCPPD SEQ ID NO: 366 STCKQXGTCPPDSEQ ID NO: 367 QTCKAXGTCPSD SEQ ID NO: 368 QTCKLXGTCPPDSEQ ID NO: 369 KQCQLXADCPPD SEQ ID NO: 370 AKCQLXGNCLPDSEQ ID NO: 371 AKCQLXGDCLPD SEQ ID NO: 372 RHCALXGTCPDDSEQ ID NO: 373 KHCAGXGTCPED SEQ ID NO: 374 KTCLQXGDCIPDSEQ ID NO: 375 RSCLQXGDCIPD SEQ ID NO: 376 QTCKAXGTCPPDSEQ ID NO: 377 KTCKQXGTCPED SEQ ID NO: 378 KTCKQXGTCPSDSEQ ID NO: 379 STCKAXGTCPPD SEQ ID NO: 380 PTCKIXGNCPADSEQ ID NO: 381 PACKIXNTCPPD ***X = Gly (G) or Ala (A)SEQ ID NO: 382 GCKQXGTCPPD SEQ ID NO: 383 GCKAXNTCPPDSEQ ID NO: 384 ACKAXGTCPPD SEQ ID NO: 385 SCKAXGTCPPDSEQ ID NO: 386 KCKAXGTCIPD SEQ ID NO: 387 GCKAXGTCPPDSEQ ID NO: 388 KCKAXGTCPPD SEQ ID NO: 389 TCKVXGTCPADSEQ ID NO: 390 TCKAXGTRPAD SEQ ID NO: 391 TCKVXGTCPPDSEQ ID NO: 392 SCKLXGTCPPD SEQ ID NO: 393 SCKQXGTCPSDSEQ ID NO: 394 TCKAXGTCPAD SEQ ID NO: 395 TCKLXGTCPEDSEQ ID NO: 396 TCKAXGTCPSD SEQ ID NO: 397 TCKLXGTCPPDSEQ ID NO: 398 QCQLXADCPPD SEQ ID NO: 399 KCQLXGNCLPDSEQ ID NO: 400 KCQLXGDCLPD SEQ ID NO: 401 HCALXGTCPDDSEQ ID NO: 402 HCAGXGTCPED SEQ ID NO: 403 TCLQXGDCIPDSEQ ID NO: 404 SCLQXGDCIPD SEQ ID NO: 405 TCKAXGTCPPDSEQ ID NO: 406 TCKQXGTCPSD SEQ ID NO: 407 TCKIXGNCPADSEQ ID NO: 408 ACKIXNTCPPD ***X = Gly (G) or Ala (A)SEQ ID NO: 409 CKQXGTCPDD SEQ ID NO: 410 CKAXNTCPPDSEQ ID NO: 411 CLAXGTCPAD SEQ ID NO: 412 CLAXGTCPPDSEQ ID NO: 413 CKLXGTCPAD SEQ ID NO: 414 CKVXGTCPADSEQ ID NO: 415 CKAXGTRPAD SEQ ID NO: 416 CKVXGTCPPDSEQ ID NO: 417 CKAXGTCPAD SEQ ID NO: 418 CKLXGTCPEDSEQ ID NO: 419 CKAXGTCPSD SEQ ID NO: 420 CKLXGTCPPDSEQ ID NO: 421 CQLXADCPPD SEQ ID NO: 422 CQLXGNCLPDSEQ ID NO: 423 CQLXGDCLPD SEQ ID NO: 424 CALXGTCPDDSEQ ID NO: 425 CAGXGTCPED SEQ ID NO: 426 CLQXGDCIPDSEQ ID NO: 427 CKAXGTCPPD SEQ ID NO: 428 CKQXGTCPSDSEQ ID NO: 429 CKIXGNCPAD SEQ ID NO: 430 CKIXNTCPPD ***X =Gly (G) or Ala (A) SEQ ID NO: 486 KTCKQSGTCPSDVVNKVEGSEQ ID NO: 487 QTCKAAGTCPSDVIPKIEH SEQ ID NO: 488 KTCKQSGTCPPDVIDKVEGSEQ ID NO: 489 STCKAAGTCPPDVIPKVKG SEQ ID NO: 490 KTCKQSGTCPSDSEQ ID NO: 491 ((SEQ ID NO: 2)x3 + (SEQ ID NO: 487)x3 +(SEQ ID NO: 77)x3 with a tripeptide (GGP) linker):KTCKQAGTCPPDIIPKVEGGGPKTCKQAGTCPPDIIPKVEGGGPKTCKQAGTCPPDIIPKVEGGGPQTCKAAGTCPSDVIPKIEHGGPQTCKAAGTCPSDVIPKIEHGGPQTCKAAGTCPSDVIPKIEHGGPSTCKAAGTCPPDVVNKVEGGGPSTCKAAGTCPPDVVNKVEGGGPSTCKAAGTCPPDVVNKVEGSEQ ID NO: 492 ((SEQ ID NO: 2) + (SEQ ID NO: 487) +(SEQ ID NO: 77))x3 with a tripeptide (GGP) linkerKTCKQAGTCPPDIIPKVEGGGPQTCKAAGTCPSDVIPKIEHGGPSTCKAAGTCPPDVVNKVEGGGPKTCKQAGTCPPDIIPKVEGGGPQTCKAAGTCPSDVIPKIEHGGPSTCKAAGTCPPDVVNKVEGGGPKTCKQAGTCPPDIIPKVEGGGPQTCKAAGTCPSDVIPKIEHGGPSTCKAAGTCPPDVVNKVEG

TABLE 2 List of thioredoxin variantsSEQ ID NO: 493 (variant thiorexodin polypeptidefrom hyperthermophile archaebacterium Pyrococcus furiosus)MIIEYDGEIDFTKGRVVLWFSIPGCGPCRLVERFMTELSEYFEDIQIVHINAGKWKNIVDKFNILNVPTLVYLKDGREVGRQNLIRSKEEILKKLKELQESEQ ID NO: 494 (variant thiorexodin polypeptidefrom hyperthermophile archaebacterium Thermococcus kodakarensis)MIVEYDENVDFTKGKAVLWFSIPGCGPCRLVEAFMKELSEEFGEIAIVHVNAEKWSGLVEGFRILNVPTLVYLKDGKEVARQNLIRGKGEVLIKFEEPRE LSEQ ID NO: 495 (variant thiorexodin polypeptidefrom hyperthermophile archaebacterium Thermococcus onnurineus)MIREFDGDFGKVERAKYALLWFSSPGCGPCRMIEPFMHELSEEYKEVEFWEVDVEKHLPLAEKFDVMNVPTLIYLKEGNEIARQNLVRKKEEVEEKLMML LGSDSSEQ ID NO: 496 (variant of thiorexodin polypeptidefrom hyperthermophile archaebacterium Thermococcus sibiricus)MIHEYDGKIDFNRGKVVLWFSIQGCGPCRLVESFMEEVSEEFSEIRFIHVGAEKWSNIVKRFEVLNVPTLVYLKDGKEVARQNLIRSKEEVLAKIEELHESEQ ID NO: 497 (Dimer of Escherichia coli thioredoxin variants)MSDKIIHLTDDSFDTDVLKADGAILVDFWAEWCGPCKMIAPILDEIADEYQGKLTVAKLNIDQNPGTAPKYGIRGIPTLLLFKNGEVAATKVGALSKGQLKEFLDANLAGGGGSEGGGSEGGGSEGGGSEGGGSEGGGSEGGGMSDKIIHLTDDSFDTDVLKADGAILVDFWAEWCGPGCKMIAPILDEIADEYQGKLTVAKLNIDQNPGTAPKYGIRGIPTLLLFKNGEVAATKVGALSKGQLKEFLDA NLASEQ ID NO: 498 (Trimer of Escherichia coli thioredoxin variants)MSDKIIHLTDDSFDTDVLKADGAILVDFWAEWCGPCKMIAPILDEIADEYQGKLTVAKLNIDQNPGTAPKYGIRGIPTLLLFKNGEVAATKVGALSKGQLKEFLDANLAGGGGSEGGGSEGGGSEGGGSEGGGSEGGGSEGGGMSDKIIHLTDDSFDTDVLKADGAILVDFWAEWCGPGCKMIAPILDEIADEYQGKLTVAKLNIDQNPGTAPKYGIRGIPTLLLFKNGEVAATKVGALSKGQLKEFLDANLAGGGGSEGGGSEGGGSEGGGSEGGGSEGGGSEGGGMSDKIIHLTDDSFDTDVLKADGAILVDFWAEWCLSCKMIAPILDEIADEYQGKLTVAKLNIDQNPGTAPKYGIRGIPTLLLFKNGEVAATKVGALSKGQLKEFLDANLA

1. An immunogenic polypeptide comprising a) a scaffold polypeptide, andb) a L2 polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ IDNO:1, or a fragment thereof, wherein said scaffold polypeptideconstrains the structure of said L2 polypeptide, or of said fragment ofsaid L2 polypeptide.
 2. The immunogenic polypeptide of claim 1, whereinthe scaffold polypeptide is selected from the group consisting ofthioredoxin polypeptides, thioredoxin polypeptides derived fromthermophile bacteria, capsid polypeptides of adeno-associated viruses,the tenth type III module of fibronectin (FN3), lipocalins, acatalytically inactive version of Staphylococcus nuclease, alpha-amylaseinhibitors, and stefin A.
 3. The immunogenic polypeptide of claim 1,wherein the scaffold polypeptide is a thioredoxin polypeptide selectedfrom the group consisting of: a) a polypeptide having a sequence asshown in SEQ ID No: 24, SEQ ID No: 25, SEQ ID No: 26, SEQ ID No: 27, orSEQ ID No: 28, and b) a variant polypeptide having a sequence at least70% identical to the sequence shown in SEQ ID No: 24, SEQ ID No: 25, SEQID No: 26, SEQ ID No: 27, or SEQ ID No: 28, wherein said polypeptideconstrains the structure of the L2 polypeptide, or which constrains thestructure of a fragment of said L2 polypeptide.
 4. The immunogenicpolypeptide according to claim 1, wherein the fragment or variant of thefragment of the L2 polypeptide is selected from the group consisting ofSEQ ID NO: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 31 and
 32. 5.The immunogenic polypeptide according to claim 1, wherein the fragmentof the L2 polypeptide has a sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:2.
 6. Theimmunogenic polypeptide according to claim 1, wherein the polypeptidecomprises a multimer of said fragment.
 7. The immunogenic polypeptideaccording to claim 1, wherein the immunogenic polypeptide has a sequenceas shown in SEQ ID NO: 29 or
 30. 8. A polynucleotide encoding theimmunogenic polypeptide according to claim
 1. 9-16. (canceled)